Oyster-tongs



(No Model.)

B. GUBEL. OYSTER TONGS.

No. 581,696. Patented May 4, 1897.

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EDIVARD CUBEL, OF TAMPA, FLORIDA.

OYSTER-TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581 ,696, dated May 4, 1897.

Application filed December 3, 1896. erial No. 614,301. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD OUBEL, of Tampa, I-lillsborough county, Florida, have invented certain Improvements in Oyster- Tongs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which I Figure 1 represents my oyster-tongs open; Fig. 2, the same closed; Fig. 3, a plan 011 a reduced scale; Fig. 4:, a View enlarged, representing the operating parts; Fig. 5, a partial elevation and section of the same enlarged; Figs. 6 and 7, horizontal sections showing the operating parts when locked to hold the tongs open and when unlocked to admit of their being closed, respectively. Fig. 8 represents a single tine with a section of a combined brace and guard applied thereto; Figs. 9, 10, and 11, details to be referred to.

My invention has particular reference to that class of oyster-ton gs described in United States Patents Nos. 552,772 and 567,791, in both of which a spring locking device is employed for holding the tongs in an open position while gathering the load, said locking device being released by a line connection leading to the operator in the boat to admit of the closure of the tongs to retain the oysters collected thereby, the object of my invention being to simplify the construction and reduce the labor of manipulating said tongs by dispensing with the said locking device and its line connection; and this invention consists, in combination with the two members or forks of an oyster-tongs, of a slotted tube having a handle at its upper end and a loose collar or sleeve at its lower end, mechanism interposed between and secured to said sleeve and one member of the tongs, and a stem secured to the other member and having a pin or projecting stud which enters and is guided by the slot of the tube surrounding it.

In the said drawings, A 13 represent the two members or forks of an oyster-tongs, pivoted together, each member composed of a series of curved tines a, having their lower extremities pointed, as shown, the tines of one member extending beyond those of the other member when the tongs are closed, Figs. 2 and 3, the tines of both members being sufseveral tines of each fork is a metal strip 1),

which serves the double purpose of reinforcing and preventing the undue bending of the tines, and also serves as a reliable guard for preventing the points of the tines from entering and partially opening the oysters when the loads contained within the tongs are successively deposited upon the pile previously accumulated in the boat, for experience has taught me that the weight of the loaded tongs and the friction which arises in opening them in discharging their loads upon the pile previously accumulated frequently cause the opening or injury of the shells, in which condition if not soon utilized they are liable to spoil.

C is a stem secured to the top of the longitudinal cross-bar c of one member A, and is provided with a pin or short stud cl, projecting therefrom. Surrounding this stem and extending up beyond it is a tube D, having a handle G and provided with a slot e for the reception of the pin, said slot being composed of three portionsa longitudinal vertical portion 14, a short horizontal portion 15 at or nearly at right angles thereto, and a short vertical portion 16, the horizontal portion 15 forming an offset at the upper end of the vertical portion 14, which latter extends up from an enlargement h near the bottom of the tube.

Below the enlargement h and removed a short distance therefrom is another similar enlargement '1 which forms the bottom of the tube D, around which tube and located between the enlargements h c is a loose collar or sleeve II. This sleeve consists of a metal strip of such length that when bent around the tube its ends may be brought nearly together, thus forming a projection 1, between the portions of which is pivoted the upper end of a link I, to the lower end of which is pivoted the inner ends of a pair of arms L, the outer ends of which are secured to the cross-bar c of the member B.

Other connections between the sleeve H and the member B may be interposed without the exercise of more than ordinary skill. For instance, one arm M only extending from the bottom of the link I directly to the center of the cross-bar c of the member B may be employed, as seen in Fig. 10, or the arms L and the central one M may all be used, Fig. 11, in case the tongs are of large size.

19 p are side bars for preventing the escape of the oysters from the ends of the tongs.

Operation: The tongs may be opened and locked in an open position either in the boat or on the bottom to be dredged, and when on the latter ready to work the tines of the fork A rest on the bottom, and those of the fork B are elevated and the handle G inclined, as seen in Fig. 1. When the tongs are closed and the parts in the position seen in Fig. 2 and it is desired to open the same, I proceed as follows, viz: The handle G is pressed in the direction of the arrow 18, causing the tube D to slide down upon the stem 0 until the enlargement 7 comes into contact with the cross-bar c of the member A, during which operation the longitudinal vertical portion 14 of the slot 6 of the tube will have passed by the pin 02 till the short horizontal portion 15 of the slot is brought in line therewith. Simultaneously with the downward movement of the slotted tube the member B commences to open or move away from the member A until the tongs are wide open, at which time the horizontal portion 15 of the slot is opposite the pin d, Fig. 9. Now to retain the member B away from the member A, or, in other words, to lock the tongs in their open working position, it is only necessary to partially turn the handle, and with it the tube, in the direction of the arrow 19, when the short Wall 20 of the portion 15 comes against the pin and brings the short vertical portion 16 of the slot in line therewith, after which a slight pull upward on the handle causes the bottom of the portion 16 to abut against the pin d, thus securely locking the tongs in an open position, as seen in Fig. 1. After the member A has been dragged on the bottom till a sufficient number or pile of oysters has been collected thereby the tube D is carried down slightly by pressure on the handle till the portion 15 of the slot is brought in line with the pin, when the handle is given a partial turn in the opposite direction to the arrow 19 till the vertical portion 14 of the slot is in line with the pin, when by pulling upward on the handle the bottom of this portion of the slot is made to come into contact with the pin, by which manipulation of the handle and movement of the tube the member B approaches and is closed against the member A. The tongs with the load is now raised, and before lifting it into the boat is turned so as to bring the handle nearest the gunwale in order to lift it more conveniently thereover, the weight of the load being sufiicient to keep the tongs closed. The construction of the slotted tube and sleeve associated with the stem and its pin is the meritorious feature involved in this invention, as thereby it is possible to open and lock and unlock the tongs in the most convenient manner.

I claim 1. As an improvement in oyster-tongs, the combination and arrangement of the following. instrumentalitiesviz., a pair of members 'or forks AB pivoted together, a stem 0 secured to one member A, and having a pin cl projecting therefrom, a tube D surrounding the stem and having a slot 6 for the reception of the pin, a handle G secured to the upper end of the tube, a sleeve H surrounding its lower end, and mechanism interposed between and secured to the sleeve and the other member 13, as described.

2. In combination, a pair of forks A B pivoted together, a stem C secured to one fork A, a pin cl projecting from said stem, a tube D surrounding the stem and with a slot e for the reception of the pin, a handle G at the upper end of the tube, a sleeve H surrounding its lower end, and a link I and one or more arms LLM interposed between and secured to the sleeve and the other fork B, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 30th day of November, 1896.

EDlVARD CUBEL.

In presence of- N. W. STEARNs, A. F. SrEARNs. 

